When the Heart Lies - By Christina North Page 0,24

“This isn’t about scrubs. When’s the last time someone came here needing scrubs?”

The argument got louder by the second, and neither Hector nor Byrd showed signs of retreating. Hector sprung closer to Byrd, and Jackson stepped between them. The nurse backed away to avoid being trampled.

“Whoa, whoa, let’s all just settle down here.” He turned and silently stared at Byrd. “Why don’t you let the man tell you what happened?”

Byrd fell silent, waiting on Hector for an explanation. Hector explained the story as they’d planned.

Byrd swung his head in Jackson’s direction. “What about him. How’d he get out?”

Jackson cut in before Hector had a chance to say something he wouldn’t be able to explain. “I’m not talking to anyone until I see Pierce in the morning. He’s my doctor, and he’s the only one I’m talking to.”

“Humph. Your doctor.” Byrd’s nostrils flared, and his nose twitched, as he slapped the folder he held into the nurse’s chest.

Jackson’s fists clenched, and his jaw set, but he managed to restrain himself.

Byrd took off down the hall. “Get them in their Goddamn rooms!” His hollering echoed through the halls as he walked away.

“Kinsley, you should go to your room now,” the nurse said, appearing sympathetic.

Kinsley glanced at Jackson, expressionless, and headed off.

~ ~ ~

Kinsley entered her room, leaned her back against the cold wood door, and slid to the floor closing it behind her. She sat staring into the darkness. What a foolish choice she’d made, she should have stayed in her room and kept far away from Jackson from the start. A soft tap broke the silence. She stood, wiped her eyes, smoothed her tousled hair, and opened the door slowly. Jackson stood solemnly before her

“Please, Jackson, just go away.”

He glanced in both directions and then met her stare. He begged without words for her to let him enter. She closed her eyes, exhaled heavily, and turned from him as he entered. He was getting to her, and she couldn’t let that happen.

“Kinsley.”

She turned to him, arms crossed over her chest. “Jackson, I shouldn’t have gone with you. I’m sorry if I confused you.”

His head torqued forward, and his hands went out to his sides. “Confused me? You’re the one confused. You’re living with a man you seem to hate, and the husband you’re in such a hurry to go back to doesn’t seem much better. Granted, I shouldn’t have taken you out—but I’m glad I did. And somewhere inside I think you are, too.”

With a haughty tone, she discounted him. “You think—you think? You don’t even know me. You have no idea what I think.” She said the words cold-heartedly and turned from him again, walking toward the window. With a second thought, she swiveled back. “Besides I told you before I’m in the middle of something.” When he moved toward her, she backed away, stopped only by the window behind her.

He closed the last two feet separating them, his eyes and voice commanding her attention. “Yeah. I think. And the only thing you’re in the middle of is a mess.”

“Step back, Jackson! You’re out of line. Sorry your master plan of seduction didn’t pan out.”

With a short burst of laughter, he began to turn away, but then turned back. After shaking his head with an incensed expression, he grasped and cradled her face, firm yet gentle, in one hand. He followed her eyes with his when she tried to look away from him. She gulped, attempting not to show how the sensations of his closeness both thrilled and terrified her.

He whispered his next words in a sexy chanting way close to her lips. Too close. “Pleeeze—you were waiting all night for that kiss. Those dewy eyes, the seductive flirting, and best of all, the sweet lick of the lips as you readied them for me. You’re the mastermind of seduction, sweetie. Not me. Look at you. You’re ready for me now.”

A grunt larger than she was escaped her, she lifted her leg, slammed her foot down on his and tore her face from his grasp. It must have hurt, but the blow only slowed him for an instant. He caught her arm as she passed him. She was moving fast, and when she sprung back round, her breasts pressed firmly into his hard muscled chest, her hips falling naturally at his groin which was equally as hard.

In a mocking, angry display, she licked her lips as her eyes stayed steady with his. He released her with a light shove to